And although he went on to say he would have made the building smaller, he said the library was better than Selfridges for the city.

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“I love it,” he said: “slightly controversially I think it’s a much better building for Birmingham than Selfridges ever was. I think it’s a proper building, Selfridges on the inside is just a store, it’s a statement on the outside.

“The library, although a very beautiful object, it’s also a really clever building inside and awe inspiring.

“Anyone unsure about it should go inside, it’s a huge space that lifts up. It’s reinvigorated the Rep (Theatre) which is great.”

But McCloud, in Birmingham for this weekend’s Grand Design’s Live show at the NEC, agreed with Shaw on the library’s dwarfing presence in Centenary Square. He said: “I’m a little bit sorry for the Rep because it’s dwarfed now.

“I always thought the Rep took its cues from the New York Metropolitan Opera, it’s sort of a bit dwarfed now. If it were me working with the architect I would have said make it about 10 to 15 per cent smaller.”

Shaw made his comments as he prepared to take to the stage in classic play Twelve Angry Men which opened at the Rep last night.

Selfridges, in the Bullring

He told how none of the Birmingham of his childhood now remained and said of the library: “I hate it. It’s monstrous. Forgive me, I know Birmingham is very proud of it, but in my opinion it has nothing going for it at all.”

For McCloud though, the city is a hot bed of architectural gems.

He said: “I love the Rep and Baskerville House by Herbert Baker. A lot of people don’t like the Cube, I’ve got friends who really don’t like it, but I adore it.”

Neil Edginton, Director of the Cube said ‘I’m delighted to hear Kevin McCloud is a fan of Birmingham’s ultimate landmark.”